New Zealand whisky remains one of the industry's most genuinely interesting outliers. While the world fixates on Japanese single malts and American craft bourbon, a small cluster of distillers at the bottom of the world have been quietly building something worth paying attention to. Thomson Whisky, based in Auckland, is arguably the most visible name in that conversation, and their Two Tone Blend is positioned as an accessible entry point into what New Zealand whisky actually tastes like.
Let me be upfront about what 'Two Tone' means here. This is a blend that marries malt and grain whisky — a formula as old as Scotch blending itself — but executed with New Zealand-distilled spirit. At 40% ABV and carrying no age statement, it sits in familiar commercial territory. The price point, however, does not. At £48.50, you're paying a premium that reflects geography and scarcity rather than age. That's worth understanding before you buy, because if you're comparing this pound-for-pound against a blended Scotch, you'll find better value elsewhere. That's not the point of this bottle.
The point is provenance and curiosity. Thomson has been working with native New Zealand wood — mānuka among them — for maturation, and their house style leans into a kind of fruity, slightly honeyed warmth that feels distinct from Scottish or Irish blends. The Two Tone is built to showcase that character in a format that doesn't demand you sit down and take notes. It's a weeknight whisky from a place you didn't expect to make weeknight whisky, and it does that job well.
Tasting Notes
I'll hold off on breaking this down into a formal nose-palate-finish structure here — what I will say is that the Two Tone drinks lighter and friendlier than you might expect from a craft operation. There's a smoothness to it that suggests careful blending rather than simply marrying whatever was available. It's not challenging, but it's not hollow either. The grain component keeps things approachable while the malt provides enough backbone to remind you this isn't flavoured vodka.
The Verdict
At 7.5 out of 10, this is a solid and genuinely enjoyable blend from a part of the world still establishing its whisky identity. It won't convert anyone who demands peat smoke or sherry bomb richness, but that was never the intention. Thomson are making whisky that reflects where they are — and the Two Tone does that with enough confidence and quality to justify the purchase, even at a price that makes you raise an eyebrow. Think of it as buying a conversation starter that also happens to taste good. For anyone interested in where world whisky is heading, this belongs on your radar.
Best Served
This works best as a simple highball. Good ice, quality soda water, and a strip of fresh lemon peel. The lighter body and gentle sweetness of the Two Tone really open up with a bit of dilution and fizz — it's practically built for it. If you're drinking neat, a few drops of water won't hurt. Save the serious nosing glass for something with more complexity; this one is happiest in a tumbler on a Friday evening.
